Blaze delivers blow to family

Mother, six children lose home, belongings

STOCKTON - All that's left of the house where Marina Hernandez and her six children recently spent their first Christmas together are the burned-out remains of the home and a pile of charred belongings in the driveway.

STOCKTON - All that's left of the house where Marina Hernandez and her six children recently spent their first Christmas together are the burned-out remains of the home and a pile of charred belongings in the driveway.

The debris includes clothing, televisions, sofas, the tricycle her 3-year-old son received for Christmas and a bassinet Hernandez bought her 17-year-old daughter, who is eight months pregnant.

The fire at the South American Street home Hernandez was renting began in the garage about 7 p.m. Tuesday. It gutted the garage and caused severe smoke damage throughout the house, leaving the family in desperate need. Investigators have not determined what caused the blaze, said Art Ray, a spokesman for the Stockton Fire Department.

Hernandez shared the house with her children: Luis Santana Jr., 3; Juanito Castillo, 10; Selena Jaramillo, 14; Jaime Ortiz, 15; Teresa Ortiz, 16; and Josephina Jaramillo, 17. Hernandez said the few items salvaged from the fire included a Lightning McQueen blanket belonging to her youngest son, a tiara from Teresa's 16th birthday party and two of the 14 Justin Bieber posters Selena had collected.

Luis keeps asking about the talking Mickey Mouse toy he received for Christmas, but the doll didn't survive the smoke damage.

Hernandez, who said she once battled crack cocaine addiction and went to prison from 2005 to 2008, moved into the home in November.

"It felt like we all got back together, like we were a big, happy family again," Josephina said while dabbing tears from her eyes.

Hernandez and her children made tamales together for Christmas. It was the first time she had all her children under one roof for the holidays, she said.

"We've never really had a Christmas," Hernandez said. "This was the first Christmas we had together as a family in the same house. The kids didn't get much for Christmas this year, either, but we were just happy to be together."

Money from a Red Cross relief fund allowed Martinez and her children to spend the past three nights at the Red Roof Inn on East Fremont Street.

A woman renting out a house on Sutter Street agreed late Thursday to let Hernandez move in for $400, but Hernandez still must raise another $700 to cover the first month's rent. The family also needs clothing, blankets, dishes and other household items.

Hernandez said she has relatives in the area, but none who have the resources to help. She has set up a fund if anyone wants to provide assistance. Donations can be made at any Bank of America branch. The account number is 325014203361.

Hernandez fears people will be reluctant to help, given her past drug use and criminal record, but she insists her life has changed.

"I don't use drugs, I don't drink every day, and I have my children with me," she said. "They're all in school and they're almost all 'A' students. It used to be drugs first for me, but now it's family first. I just want us all to be together."